Chapter 20: The Rotten Harvest
Chapter 20 - "The Rotten Harvest"
...Oliver squinted toward the horizon, at the mighty ship ready to take them all—an incredible display of the wealth of the Somara empire. The salty sea breeze whipped across the battered dock, and the waters of the Great Southern Sea churned like a beast waking from slumber.
He had read enough maps and overheard enough whispers to know where they were going. Across that monstrous expanse lay the Somara Empire—a land of blood-stained gold, dungeon-parasitic nobles, and cruel "games" that had claimed many like him. The voyage would take a week, maybe longer depending on the tides and Aether used.
But they weren't departing just yet.
They were thinning the herd.
The soldier continued to walk among the rows of chained slaves—his eyes like that of a butcher inspecting meat. Those with festering wounds or coughs that rasped too loudly were dragged out, killed and fed to the massive, snorting beasts the soldiers rode—horned mounts with teeth too sharp for herbivores.
It was only natural for them to do this as this kind of long transport of slaves could easily spread diseases and infection.
This was a cruel world, even one's lack of luck could become their undoing.
Just like the man whose wife had just been executed as an example.
Oliver took a look at the man.
The poor fellow had fallen on his knees, frozen in shock as his eyes remained wide and mouth agape. Her blood still stained his neck to his arms—warm, sticky proof of her final breath. Only moments ago, he'd whispered soft, trembling comfort in her ear. She'd smiled regardless of the unfortunate fall of the kingdom.